Diverter



J. H. FOWLER Oct. 14, 1969 DIVERTER Filed Nov. 3, 1965 c/ofirv /7. Few/em 153' TMWE W Arm/me r United States Patent 3,472,317 DIVERTER John H. Fowler, Houston, Tex., assignor to Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 506,202 Int. Cl. F16k 3/06 US. Cl. 166.5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE branch.

This invention is generally concerned with tool diverters for use in conjunction with well head conduits, and more specifically for use in underwater drilling and production operations.

Oftentimes, in the search for exploitation of underwater petroleum deposits, it is necessary that single conduits at the well head branch into plural conduits. For example, a single section attached to the master valve may link both the swab valves and wing valves. Thus, various throughfiowline tools may be utilized as needed. The diverse secondary tubing may become integral at a Y junction. Means must be provided for directing tool passage through the particular conduit chosen, while effectively blocking entry into the other or others. In the past this has been done by plug deflectors inserted on wire lines into the vertical branch of the conduit. This method requires removal of the plug during workover operations and creates various other problems also. It is preferable such diverters not only be effective in operation, and simple to service, but in the case of underwater operations, be capable of being caused to operate from a distance.

Thus a prime object of applicants invention is the provision of a means for diverting egress through one branch of a Y conduit to another branch without the normal problems associated with plug deflectors.

A further object is the provision of a tool diverter capable of being operated from a position removed from the diverter.

Still further objects will become apparent on examining the following description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken vertical section through a Y- branched conduit along 1-1 of FIGURE 2 and including the paddle member;

FIGURE 2 is an axial section, at substantially a right angle to FIGURE 1, showing the operator portion;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken at 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic showing a diverter according to one embodiment of the invention connected at a well head with various production valves.

Looking first at FIGURE 1, a Y conduit is depicted having branches or legs 11 merging into continuation or master section 12. Inasmuch as it may be necessary for tools to pass through either of said legs, means are presented hereinafter for directing the flow of tools through the chosen leg. Paddle 20 is used both to block entrance into one leg and to serve as a guide into the other, i.e., as an index member. Thus, it must be capable of assuming plural positons. Although the principal use would be for the directing of downhole tools, its shape may be so as to generally conform to the inner contours of the conduit if "Ice fluid diversion is sought, or generally as depicted if bulky tools are the primary passengers through the Y. Paddle member 20 is positioned adjacent the juncture of legs 10, 11 and is rigidly affixed toward one end of shaft 21, Whose extreme end may be journaled into the conduit wall as at 22. Housing 30 is affixed to one wall of the conduit defining a portion of the conduit wall and a chamber 31 and communicating with the internal passageway through the conduit by means of bore 32 through Wall 33. Shaft 21 is journaled through bore 32, said bore being a linear extension of a similar ibore through threaded plug 34 inserted within wall 33, there also being packing 35 surrounding shaft 21 adjacent plug 34 to eifect a seal. The other end of shaft 21 is received by thrust bearing 40 to absorb pressure load and radial loads on the shaft, said thrust bearing being associated in a known manner with outer wall 41 of housing 30. Inwardly of thrust bearing 40 crank 43 is rigidly joined to shaft 21. Spring 46 normally biases crank 43 into the position shown in FIGURE 3 in dotted lines. Opposite spring 46, piston rod 48 of generalized piston 47 may press against crank 43 moving it to the solid-line position shown in FIGURE 3, against the pressure exerted by spring 46. Piston 47 may move within recess 50 formed in extension car 51 of housing 30, said recess obviously communicating with chamber 31. Said ear 51 includes drilled portion 52 to which is connected. a source of pressurized air or other fluids under pressure, for causing motion of piston 47. Opening 50, at the outer end of ear 51, may be closed by plug 60.

In operation, a source of pressurized air or other fluid is connected to port 52. Prior to operation thereof, both paddle member 20 and crank 43 are in the respective positions shown in the dotted lines: of FIGURES 1, 3. This would provide a clear passageway through leg 11 and master section 12. On force being applied against the end of piston 47, through pressurized air, or hydraulic fluids entering port 52, piston 47 would move to the right and thereby piston rod 48 causes crank 43 to move to the solid line position of FIGURE 3. Inasmuch as crank 43 and paddle member 20 are rigid with shaft 21, said paddle will also move to its solid-line position of FIG- URE 1, thereby blocking tool entrance into leg 11 and opening leg 10 with respect to master section 12. On the force for operating piston 47 being removed, both said crank and paddle will return to their respective biased positions. Thus in a compact and economical unit, tool diverting means are provided which may be operated in an expeditious manner and by a motivator which may be well removed from the actual diverting operation.

It is further noted that operation of the diverter through port 52 could be accomplished in conjunction with the operation of one of the piston-operated valves at the well head through branched conduits or the like, one branch of which might connect port 52. For example, in the schematic drawing of FIGURE 4, a diverter 1 according to the invention is connected above a wellhead 70 with a master valve 71, wing valve 72, and swab valve 73. Conduits 75, 76 and 77 supply operating power from a remote pressure source (not shown) to the operators of valves 72, 73 and 71, respectively. A branch of conduit 76 also connects port 52 of diverter housing 30 so that the diverter 1 may be operated in conjunction with swab valve 73. Of course port 52 could be connected to either conduit or 77 (as shown by dotted lines) if operation with valves 72 or 71 were desired. Thus, controls already in existence to operate the well head valve may perform the added function of diverting, thus eliminating the necessity of running additional tools into the well head to remove any diverter plug.

Although but a single embodiment has been described, it must be obvious that numerous modifications are possible by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for directing devices through alternate legs of a Y, the combination of:

blocking means positioned adjacent the juncture of said legs comprising a paddle 'afiixed to its other end, said paddle moving in a manner directly related to motion of said crank; spring means positioned adjacent said crank for biasing said blocking means toward a position wherein one of said legs communicates with the master section of said Y and the other of said legs is blocked; and piston means having a rod yieldingly pressed against said crank for counteracting said spring means thereby blocking said one leg and unblocking said other 3;

said crank, piston means, and a portion of said shaft means being mounted in a chamber sealingly isolated from external environments.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said chamber is formed within a housing adjacent said master section and forming a portion of the wall of said Y.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said piston is mounted in a cylindrical recess of said chamber.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical recess has an opening through which said piston means may be removed from said chamber said opening being normally closed by plug means.

5. In an underwater Well for the production of petroleum comprising a branched flow conductor having a master section branch, a swab section branch upwardly of said master section and a wing section branch upwardly of said master section, the combination of:

movable blocking means positioned substantially at the juncture of said swab and wing branches;

remotely operable means for selectively positioning said blocking means to block passage of tools into one of said branches;

remotely operable valves in said master, swab and wing branches; at remote power source connected by a plurality of operating power lines to said valves and said remotely operable positioning means for operation thereof, one of said power lines commonly connecting said remotely operable positioning means to at least one of said valves for operation in conjunction therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1929 Deacon 137-612 X 2/1941 Conway 137-612 3/1958 Zies 137-612 X 10/1960 Flick 251-58 X 1/1963 Yoder 251-58 X 3/1963 Nelson et al. 137-612 X 12/1964 Ribeiro et a1. 251-58 X 10/1965 Cordis 137-625.66 X 3/ 1889 Lieb 243-29 3/ 1897 Pike 243-5 7/1964 Johnson 166-224 12/ 1966 Campese 243-29 11/1967 Pennington 166-.5 12/1967 Jones et a1. 166-75 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1960 France.

2/ 1953 Germany.

3/1961 Germany.

3/1962 U.S.S.R.

JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,472 ,317 October 14 1969 John H. Fowler It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 7, after "to" insert one end of a shaft, said shaft having a crank affixed to Signed and sealed this 24th day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

